Jury Duty is not family-friendly!

[PattnFmly]

Ugh, what a week we had last week, and it's starting off just the same this week. DH has federal jury duty. But DH works nights so he can do drop off/pick up of the kids each day. We've had to finagle our schedule in the mornings to get all of us where we need to be on time, getting up extra extra early and leaving the kids at school early too. Afternoons, well, it's been a mish mash to say the least. I can't just take time off to deal with everything because he's on jury duty. Nor would they excuse him. Nor do we have any friends/family who are free at 2:15 every day - everyone works! I hope they are not in deliberations too long this week. At least he's not on one of those high profile ones that take months. After this week they better not call him for 10 years - not just 3!

 

[AKL_Megs]

Ugh. They should SERIOUSLY offer a daycare service. What are SAHM's supposed to do? It's not like you can run out and find decent daycare services in a day or two!

 

[mickeywho?]

Is "lack of available childcare" not a reasonable excuse to not be on jury. I know some judges are frustrated with all the excuses out there but I would think explaining this would be justified!

 

[DisneyFed]

Been there...done that...just not on the jury...LOL

 

[agnes!]

Yeah, I admit I was glad I didn't get picked up for Federal Jury duty the last time I was called up...we live in a jurisdiction where a lot of terrorist stuff can get on the docket. *sigh*...I suppose it's been long enough that I'm going to get called up again, just in time for the Gitmo detainees to get in the system.

Sorry it's been such a hassle. Many thanks to your DH (& to your family) for him serving on a Federal jury.

agnes!

 

[agnes!]

Is "lack of available childcare" not a reasonable excuse to not be on jury. I know some judges are frustrated with all the excuses out there but I would think explaining this would be justified!

Not in my case. They just need enough bodies in the jury pool to pick from, they need enough people to then serve on the jury and as alternates. The Court didn't care about why I couldn't do it, they wanted me *there*.

agnes!

 

[HM]

The only time I was called to Federal Jury duty, my kids were small and I'd have to drive an hour each way, each day. Child care just could not be worked out. I wrote a letter to the judge and got excused.

 

[barkley]

Is "lack of available childcare" not a reasonable excuse to not be on jury. I know some judges are frustrated with all the excuses out there but I would think explaining this would be justified!

has'nt been a viable excuse anytime i've been called (or i've know someone whose been called)-that's supposedly why you have the right to ask for one delay in serving and have to provide a date within the next 3-6 months at which time you have to guarantee you will make arrangements to be available.

had a friend who begged to be let out of jury duty-owned a one man buisness that could'nt operate outside jury hours. judge asked if he could provide verification that it was his kid's SOLE means of support-it was'nt cuz wife worked outside the home (but it was his income that kept them afloat). judge ordered him on the jury which ended up being a high profile murder case that took 6 months. only by virtue of working day and night weekends and through the help of family and friends was he able to keep from losing his buisness and home

 

[PattnFmly]

DH was originally called in the summer. He contacted them and told them he worked nights and was sole caregiver of our DS's during the day since his wife worked days. They scheduled him for September instead. Any other time I would've just taken off the week and done fall cleaning while the kids were in school but we just got back from WDW over Labor Day weekend. Can't take another week's vacation right now. So it's been a headache. But, it probably would've been worse if he'd had to be on call for 3 weeks. He got put on a jury the very first day. Here's hoping it's over soon and life gets back to normal!

 

[RadioNate]

Lack of available child care was acceptable the last time I was called up. I sent the form back with a letter and received an exemption.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Lack of available child care was acceptable the last time I was called up. I sent the form back with a letter and received an exemption.

Me, too. But that was County jury duty.

DS got called last week. And wound up on a jury and was worried sick it would last a while. THAT would have been a severe financial hardship for him.

Not sure what can be done, but jury duty should not be a hardship for citizens. Just doesn't seem right.

 

[5 'LIL *TWINKERS*]

When we moved out to our area years ago, I was contacted for jury duty twice within a year. Both times I sent a letter explaining of being a sahm of 3 (at the time) kids (age 6mo-4yrs) and not having any family around for childcare. Im a sahm, I don't have a babysitter! I was excused.

After having been called the second time for serving, I angryly(is that a word ) sent another letter asking if it was fine then, that I bring my 3 little ones with me? Haven't been contacted since.

People say its a privilege and our civic duty.....well, who's gonna take care of my children then? My dh can get off work for jury duty, but a sahm really can't unless you have a babysitter or family around, both of which I don't.

 

[mtemm]

when I was called last spring (not federal, btw), I served the day I had to serve but did not end up on a jury. I was picked to possibly part of one, but when it was my turn to say why I would/would not be able to serve, I simply told the judge that I was a sahm of 3 young children and no childcare available. that was that.

in ma you have a one day/one trial service requirement, so that was the only day I had to go in to qualify as having done my duty for x number of years (can't remember off hand). so my husband took a vacation day for that day, and I was able to go and not worry at all for that day.

actually, I think it would be interesting to serve on a jury. when my kids are in school full time and I am called again I would do what I could to get after school care so I could do it.

 

[NotUrsula]

Some jurisdictions will accept a child-care hardship as a valid excuse, but many will not. Generally in jurisdictions that will not, potential jurors are given at least several weeks' notice before they are scheduled to report, so the expectation is that you have enough time to make arrangements.

It won't fly as an excuse around here, and the summons literally contains a notice to that effect. It says that there is ample time to arrange child care, and that children are not to be brought to the courthouse by potential jurors. Bringing them anyway will get you a citation for contempt and a hefty fine, and your kids will get to spend the day in a foster care system holding center unless you can contact someone to come and retrieve them.

 

[RadioNate]

Some jurisdictions will accept a child-care hardship as a valid excuse, but many will not. Generally in jurisdictions that will not, potential jurors are given at least several weeks' notice before they are scheduled to report, so the expectation is that you have enough time to make arrangements.

It won't fly as an excuse around here, and the summons literally contains a notice to that effect. It says that there is ample time to arrange child care, and that children are not to be brought to the courthouse by potential jurors. Bringing them anyway will get you a citation for contempt and a hefty fine, and your kids will get to spend the day in a foster care system holding center unless you can contact someone to come and retrieve them.

That is really really crappy and it would be a terrible hardship for someone like me. The easiest solution would be that DH would have to take a vacation day and that is likely what we'd do.

If not I'd have to arrange all day child care for my children. We do have 2 babysitters but both go to school so they wouldn't be available all day.

Our closest family is about 2 hours away in Jacksonville. DH has 2 aunts who live there. My DD has seen them 2-3 times in her life, one has cancer, but I'm sure they would come if it was an emergency. My dad has a winter home 3 1/2 hours away and he might be able to come. Not sure I trust him with the baby but I digress.

It is a shame that this requires so much of a burden on families.

 

[minniecarousel]

The last time I asked to be excused, it was during the summer, when I don't work. But I'm my DM's caregiver. The judge would not excuse me - said DH could take time off to take her to appts, etc. Yeah, right! I ended up getting excused by one side - can't remember which one.

 

[shellybaxter]

Jury duty is a hardship for everyone. If too many exemptions are given then jurys will be made up of single professional people whose employement allows them to be paid for thier days away. Doesn't really sound like a jury of everyone's peers to me.

 

[chobie]

Jury duty is a hardship for everyone. If too many exemptions are given then jurys will be made up of single professional people whose employement allows them to be paid for thier days away. Doesn't really sound like a jury of everyone's peers to me.

ITA. It can be hard, though, my DH is currently on call for Federal JD for the next two weeks and then county JD for the week after that. County at least lets you postpone it an pick dates that are more convenient.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

That is really really crappy and it would be a terrible hardship for someone like me. The easiest solution would be that DH would have to take a vacation day and that is likely what we'd do.

If not I'd have to arrange all day child care for my children. We do have 2 babysitters but both go to school so they wouldn't be available all day.

Our closest family is about 2 hours away in Jacksonville. DH has 2 aunts who live there. My DD has seen them 2-3 times in her life, one has cancer, but I'm sure they would come if it was an emergency. My dad has a winter home 3 1/2 hours away and he might be able to come. Not sure I trust him with the baby but I digress.

It is a shame that this requires so much of a burden on families.

That is why you are given time prior to appearing at the courthouse so you can make arrangements for childcare.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

That is why you are given time prior to appearing at the courthouse so you can make arrangements for childcare.

That is not always as cut and dry as you make it sound. You can give me notice but that doesn't mean I am going to be able to find childcare. I also get that we have a civic duty but why should it cost me a fortune in childcare to be a juror? What if I simply do not have the money? Childcare for four children is not cheap. I think there needs to be a better system. I personally don't have an idea as to what but currently it is not the best set up. YMMV.